Rogue Traders star Dan Penteado imprisoned for benefit fraud

A couple of weeks ago, we reported that Rogue Traders star Dan Penteado had appeared in court to answer charges relating to suspected benefit fraud.

The charges were that Dan had made false statements in order to receive state benefits to the amount of £24,000 while in fact, he was working for, and being paid by, the BBC.

And yesterday, Penteado was back in court for sentencing, which he was told must be custodial, and indeed it was as he was sentenced to twelve weeks behind bars.

In court, magistrate John Corben told Dan, “This is not a victimless crime — it is a crime of stealing from the public purse.

“It was planned and carried out for four years and we consider the matter so serious only a custodial sentence will suffice…”

Penteado, who lives in Bournemouth, arrived at court somewhat bizarred dressed in his Rogue Traders trademark outfit of bike leathers and a crash helmet, but apparently, he did so to ensure he wasn’t photographed by the waiting press.

“We are pleased Mr Penteado has been successfully prosecuted and brought to justice.”

A spokesman for the BBC added, “In light of the prosecution Dan Penteado will not be returning to Rogue Traders.”

In an earlier hearing about the case, Terrence Scanlan, defending, said, “Mr Penteado first obtained his claim for housing benefit in October 2007, and at that point he was a student and not working for the BBC.

“The BBC subsequently employed him on short term contracts and uncertainty about his work raised a question mark that fed into his decision not to interrupt the flow of housing benefit.

“It was very poor judgement and the claim was wrongful for a period of four years.”

Mr Scanlan told the court that as a result of the conviction, Pentreado’s “burgeoning career in broadcasting” was likely to have been “scuppered”.

Lynn is an editor and writer here at Unreality TV and is trained psychotherapist and the author of two books. She's addicted to soaps, period drama and reality TV shows such as X Factor, I'm A Celeb and Big Brother.